Fantastic Four #12: Flamin’ ‘Eck 17

Fantastic Four #12, page 7, panel 6

Script: Stan Lee

Art: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Reed’s gonna have to get his body a-stretchin’ if he doesn’t want to be overtaken by his young companion for the second time. By my count, one more inexplicably unlikely application of Johnny’s powers will put him tied with Reed for second place on this blog, behind his catchphrase.

Of course, you could argue that it wouldn’t be close if I didn’t include imaginary instances, such as this one where Johnny tries to counter Ben’s delusions of Hulk-smashing with the idea that his flame is substantial enough to prevent the Hulk from walking through it, and that he’s intelligent enough to design a maze that the Hulk could not escape from. But it’s because he believes that such a plan would be a success that this instance gets included.

I can’t be held responsible for Johnny being a moron even in his own mind…